by Rev. David Tews
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church invites you to attend this year’s special services.
Regular worship services will be held on Sunday, December 24 at 9 a.m. and December 31 at 9 a.m.
There will be special services on Christmas Eve (Candlelight) at 5 p.m., Christmas Day at 9 a.m., with Christmas Dinner at 12 p.m. If you plan on attending the Christmas Dinner please call 870-670-5482 or 870-670-4814. There will also be a service on New Year’s Eve at 5 p.m.
Christmas Day Dinner at 12 p.m., a free ham dinner with all the fixings and dessert is open to all. Thanks to a special grant from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans called Action Teams, this meal is being expanded to accommodate more home bound and shut-ins. After the noon dinner, take-out boxes will be prepared to be delivered to the homebound.
If you know of someone who would benefit and enjoy a take-out meal please talk to them and encourage them to make a request for a take-out box. To help in preparation for the dinner, reservations for the meal and take out boxes need to be made by noon, December 22. Call 870-670-5482 or email shepherdhills@centurytel.net.

Fulton County Sheriff Al Roork and other law enforcement officers and community leaders are getting ready for the first Shop with a Cop Program for Fulton County. The Shop with a Cop Program is a fantastic event which pairs children, who may not have a Christmas or have never got to shop for gifts with a local law enforcement officer, to shop for gifts for themselves and family members. On December 9, children will be transported by the officers to the Ash Flat Wal-Mart for a shopping spree.
The Fulton County program was initiated last December after Sharp County held a very successful event for 105 children. Sharp County Sheriff Mark Counts and John Kunkel from First Community Bank met with Fulton County Sheriff Al Roork and Fulton County Fair Manager Carolyn Lewis and offered their help in starting a program in Fulton County. Representative Scott Baltz, Senator Linda Collins-Smith, North Arkansas Electric Cooperative, Wal-Mart at Ash Flat, First Community Bank and Kunkel each pledged funds for the Fulton County project. After hearing about the program, the Saddle Baptist Church started a monthly donation to the fund and community organizations and individuals have made donations; however, there is still a need for funds for the program. The goal is to involve 40 to 50 children and to have funds for $100 per child.
Businesses, organizations and individuals who want to make a donation can drop it off at the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office or the Fulton County Fair Office. Donations can also be mailed to Shop with a Cop, P.O. Box 910, Salem, AR 72576. For more information on the program contact the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office or call the Fulton County Fair Office at 870-895-5565.

Due to the basketball tournament at Mammoth Spring High School on December 9, the following changes to the Christmas Parade and related activities have been made:
1. Christmas Parade line up has been moved to 8th Street at 5 p.m.
2. Christmas Extravaganza activities are cancelled from 3 to 6 p.m.
3. Pictures with Santa at the Mammoth Spring Fire Department will go on as planned.
4. The Christmas Parade at 6 p.m., Choir performance and Little Miss Merry Christmas crowning will all go on as planned.
The Chamber of Commerce thanks you for your cooperation on this and hopes to see you there!

Saturday, December 2 will be a fun-filled day in Horseshoe Bend beginning with the 2017 Winterfest Christmas Parade. This year’s theme is Christmas in the Bend.
The parade begins at 10 a.m. and everyone is welcome to enter the parade. New this year, the parade will have a rain delay/cancellation policy. If it is raining too hard at 9:30 a.m., the parade will have a one hour delay and a hopeful start time of 11 a.m. If it is still raining at 11 a.m., the parade will be canceled and Santa will make his appearance at the chamber office directly following the announcement of parade cancelation.
Also new this year, parade floats will need to enter the parade line up from Highway 289/S. Bend Drive. From there, early arrival floats will turn left on First Street, right on Profession Drive and right on Third Street. The first float (after dignitaries) will begin the parade line at the corner of Third and Church Street until directed to move forward. Floats will be lined up in order of arrival, not by category and will receive entry forms once in line. Prizes will be awarded for first through third place with points being earned for theme, originality and overall appearance of the float.
Following the parade, Santa will be at the chamber office, and all children are welcome to come visit with Santa. The Horseshoe Bend Volunteer Fire Department will be offering hot dogs, brats and other concessions.
The 20th Annual Festival of Trees will be held at Cedar Glade Resort in Horseshoe Bend at 900 Fourth Street.
Everyone is invited to come and see the variety of decorations and creativity on Saturday, December 2 and Sunday, December 3, sponsored by the Horseshoe Bend Area Chamber of Commerce and Cedar Glade Resort.
Area clubs, churches, businesses and civic organizations are encouraged to place a decorated tree in the resort lobby, which is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“Every year we have some truly spectacular Christmas trees in the festival,” said chairman Karen Sherrell. “Some of the holiday trees reflect a theme, and are really clever.”
Theme forms are available at the Chamber of Commerce office located at 707 S. Third Street. Forms include name of club, organization or business, theme of tree, and a short narrative of the Christmas tree to be included in the Festival of Trees program. Forms need to be returned to the Chamber office by Thursday, November 30.
Christmas trees may be put in place beginning the day after Thanksgiving Day, November 23, and must be in place no later than Friday, December 1. Trees will remain for public viewing thorough the end of the year. Past themes include, Where do the unsold Christmas trees go, Let it snow, Gone fishin’, Volunteer angels ringing bells throughout the ages, Merry Beaded Christmas, and of course you may just enter a tree themed Merry Christmas to All.
Get your ideas in place and get to decorating for the Annual Festival of Trees to be held at Cedar Glade Resort in Horseshoe Bend.
So everyone come on out and get in the holiday spirit on Saturday, December 2 in Horseshoe Bend!
The 24th Annual Spirit of Lights Lighting Contest is now underway.
Everyone is encouraged to light up Horseshoe Bend, from Main Street to residences. Deadline to enter is Friday, December 15 at noon.

The Pacesetting Times Christmas edition is this week, December 23. Grab yourself a copy of the paper and enjoy Letters to Santa, greetings from area businesses, Christmas Parade and Santa photos, and much more!

The 22nd Annual Spirit of Lights Lighting Contest is now underway. Everyone is encouraged to light up Horseshoe Bend, from Main Street to residences.
Deadline to enter is Friday, December 11 at noon, and judging will be Saturday, December 12.
Winners in the Business and Club category will receive $100 from Pacesetting Times for first place; second place will receive $50 from Horseshoe Bend Insurance; and third place will win a $50 gift certificate from B&B Supply. Winners in the Residential Category will receive $100 from Horseshoe Health and Medicine for first place; second place will receive $50 cash from FNBC Community Bankers; and third place will receive a $50 gift certificate from Neighborhood Fresh Market.
Entry forms for the lighting contest are available at Pacesetting Times and the chamber office. Remember, if you don’t enter, you can’t win!

Come to the Diamond B Mall in Horseshoe Bend this weekend!
The Garden Club will be having a Christmas Bazaar on Friday, November 14 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, November 15 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. A Christmas Village will be featured, as well as decorated Christmas trees, Christmas decorations, plants, and baked items. Stop in early for best buys!